Passed by congress in 1791 in qualification of the main body of the u. S. Constitution, it reads: "congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. " Certain restrictions to these rights are, however, generally upheld by courts, including, in the case of speech, those against slander, hate, defamation, or perjury, for example.